Frank Barragán con Louise y Doug Jones en una reunión de campaña de Jones en elWilliam Clark Family Life Center en Prichard el 10 de noviembre. ~ Frank Barragan with Louise and Doug Jones meeting at a campaign rally for Jones at the William Clark Family Life Center in Prichard on November 10.

“I have always believed that the people of Alabama have more in common than what divide us. We have shown not just around the state of Alabama, but we have shown the country the way that we can be unified,” Jones said, then he proceeded to thank the people who helped him win the election.

That’s when Jones thanked the Latino community, a message that didn’t go unnoticed by Latino community movers and shakers.

In Mobile, community organizer for the Coastal Coalition for Immigrant Justice, Frank Barragan was encouraged.

“A lot of people were concerned because Jones didn’t have us on his platform,” Barragan said. “His ‘thank you’ tells me that his doors will be open. I honestly believe he will be reachable.”

Barragan actively worked in the election, reminding people to vote and inviting them to canvassing events, collaborating with voters in the South Asian and African American communities who he said were very active. He said that representatives within these communities spoke at rallies throughout the state, and Jones communicated with them.

Barragan says he hopes that the incoming senator will help create a unified Alabama that will listen to the needs and desires of all communities in the state.

“We now have an opportunity to introduce ourselves correctly and represent our community, our needs and desires to someone who will listen to us,” Barragan added. “It is important to Latinos, Filipinos and others,” he said.

Those needs and desires, he says, include an end to separating families, detentions and deportations of undocumented immigrants.

Jones has publicly expressed support for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients citing their contributions to military service. Barragan wants to make sure Jones and other legislators are aware of how immigrants protected under the DACA program are also taking advantage of opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.

“I have hope again!” said David Comparan, a DACA recipient and owner of David’s Pizza in Ashford near Dothan, Ala. “I wanted him to win not just because he supports DACA, but because of all the things he wants to do for Alabamians such as make healthcare affordable, college affordable, and minimum wage higher.”

Comparan said he feels that Jones understands his struggles as a DACA recipient living in Alabama, especially after the president put an end to the DACA program.

“I’m sure senator Jones will do everything he can to protect us as DREAMers and our parents,” Comparan added. “As a business owner I want to do more things and contribute more to my state. Once my DACA expires I didn’t know what I was going to do, but now I have hope and faith that something good is coming for us.”

Barragan is hopeful that Jones will also stop local police from acting as ICE agents and start working on a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.